Trump-backed Mazzei Defeats Drummond in Oklahoma GOP Runoff
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Trump-backed Mazzei defeats Drummond in Oklahoma governor GOP runoff Former state Sen. Mike Mazzei (R) is projected to defeat state Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) in the Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma governor — a win for President Trump who backed Mazzei in the contest, according to Decision Desk HQ. Drummond and Mazzei, a financial planner, were vying for the GOP nod to…
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New York TimesMike Mazzei, Backed by Trump, Wins Oklahoma Primary for Governor Mike Mazzei, a former state senator who lent more than $11 million of his own money to his campaign, narrowly defeated the state’s attorney general, Gentner Drummond.
Washington TimesTulsa businessman Mike Mazzei hopes to win Tuesday’s hotly contested Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma governor after President Donald Trump endorsed him and sharply attacked Mazzei’s rival, state Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
Fox NewsMike Mazzei, a former Oklahoma state senator and financial planner, won a primary election runoff on Tuesday evening with the backing of President Donald Trump to secure the GOP nomination for governor in Oklahoma.
Washington ExaminerMazzei, on the other hand, touted his endorsements from Trump, the Oklahoma GOP, and term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) as he aimed to compete with the statewide name recognition Drummond had as attorney general.
NBC NewsFormer state Sen. Mike Mazzei has secured the Republican nomination for governor in Oklahoma, NBC News projects, a victory for President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate.
PoliticoTrump-backed candidate wins primary for Oklahoma governor Former state Sen. Mike Mazzei’s victory is a relief for the president after several of his chosen candidates fell in other states.
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After criticizing Trump’s tariffs over the course of the primary, Drummond drew intense scrutiny from the president, who called him a “FAKE Republican” who has “a bad attitude” and “doesn’t stand for the Values of Oklahoma.”
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Washington Times“You can forget about this guy - everybody I know dislikes him,” Trump said during a Monday evening call for Oklahoma Republicans. “Gentner Drummond does not stand for the values of Oklahoma, and he’s a guy that would be, I think, a disaster.”
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“I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far,” Drummond told NewsNation days before the primary.
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NBC News“I think Oklahoma and I are supportive of President Trump and many of his policies. I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far, that importing cheap beef only injures Oklahoma’s cattlemen, ranchers and farmers,” Drummond told NewsNation, echoing the concerns of GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate from states with large cattle-ranching communities.
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Mazzei campaigned on priorities like eliminating the state’s property tax for veterans and seniors, curbing foreign land ownership in the state, education reform, opposing abortion, and cutting regulations facing small-business owners. Mazzei touted his time as budget secretary as experience that would help him lead a more fiscally responsible state government.
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Fox NewsMazzei based his campaign on promises to cut taxes, among other state-government reforms.
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Mazzei is now set to face off against Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson in the general election in November.
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NBC NewsWith his victory Tuesday, Mazzei is the heavy favorite to win November’s general election, given the state’s deeply Republican voter base. He’ll face Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson in the general election.
Fox NewsHaving cleared the primary, Mazzei will face off against Democratic nominee Cyndi Munson, House minority leader in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The general election is set for Nov. 3.
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While Drummond has raised about $4.8 million more in cash contributions, Mazzei has funded his campaign largely through personal loans of at least $11.9 million. Drummond has loaned his campaign at least $3.5 million.
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NBC NewsBoth candidates have also loaned their campaigns significant sums: $11 million for Mazzei and $3 million for Drummond.
5 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 Washington Examiner The flash point of the race centered on Drummond distancing himself from Trump’s tariff agenda, while Mazzei tied himself to the president’s endorsement as the two candidates polled neck and neck in the limited runoff surveys.
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02 Fox News The feud between them centers on Drummond’s attacks of Oklahoma poultry companies for what he sees as decades of phosphorus pollution in water supplies. Stitt has rebuffed those characterizations, calling them an overreach of Drummond’s role as attorney general and warning that litigation against the companies could threaten jobs and the agricultural industry of the state.
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03 NBC News The initial June primary was also tight. Drummond finished in first place by just more than 1,000 votes over Mazzei. Since no candidate in the crowded field secured a majority, the race went to a runoff.
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04 Washington Times The winner will face Oklahoma House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson. A Democrat hasn’t won the governor’s race since 2006, and the GOP is heavily favored to keep the office in the November general election.
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05 PBS NewsHour Live Results: Oklahoma's midterm primary runoff Oklahoma Republicans will return to the polls Tuesday to settle an expensive nomination fight for governor, while Democrats will pick a nominee for U.S. Senate.
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